HYMENOPTERA. — SPHEGID. 205 
into the tube of the mentum ; jig. 83. 8. the same entirely exserted ; 
Jig. 83. 9. the anterior fossorial tarsus ; fig. 83.10. the base of the 
posterior tarsus with the ciliated tibial spur ; fig. 83. 11. the abdomen 
of the female seen sideways, showing that the ventral arc of the first 
segment is anteriorly transformed into a complete cylinder, forming 
the first apparent segment of the peduncle). The species inhabit 
sandy districts, in which A. sabulosa Linn. (vulgaris Kirby) forms its 
burrow, using its jaws in burrowing; and when they are loaded, it 
ascends backwards to the mouth, turns quickly round, flies to about a 
foot’s distance, gives a sudden turn, throwing the sand in a complete 
shower to about six inches’ distance, and again alights at the mouth of 
its burrow. (Westwood, in Zrans. Ent. Soc. vol. i. p. 200.) 
Latreille states that this species provisions its cells with caterpillars, 
but Mr. Shuckard states he has observed the female dragging a very 
large inflated spider up the nearly perpendicular side of a sand-bank, 
at least twenty feet high, and that whilst burrowing it makes a loud 
whirring buzz* (Essay p.77.); and in the Zrans. Entomol. Soe. 
(vol. i. p. 57.) he states that he had detected both A. sabulosa and 
hirsuta dragging along large black spiders. Mr. Curtis observed it 
bury the caterpillars of a Noctua and Geometra. (Brit. Entomol. 
pl. 604.) St. Fargeau, however, states A. sabulosa collects caterpillars 
of large size, especially those of Noctuz, with a surprising per- 
severance, whereas A. arenaria Fab. (hirsuta Scop. KK. and Shk.), 
forming a distinct section in the genus, collects spiders (E’ncycl. Méth. 
tom. x. p.452.). Walckenaer also states that A. sabulosa “ enterre 
des chenilles.” (Mém. Halicte, p. 47.) In the Trans. Entomol. Soe. 
(vol. i. p. 199.) I have published a detailed account of the mode in 
which A. hirsuta constructs its cell, and which differs in some re- 
spects from that of A. sabulosa, and of the manner in which it carries 
along and buries a large smooth green caterpillar of one of the 
Noctuide. Whilst burrowing, I also observed that it made a loud 
buzzing noise. It also appeared to me that each burrow was intended 
only for a single cell; Latreille, however, seems to imply the contrary. 
(R. An. tom. v. p. 322.) It is to the last named species that I refer 
the very interesting account given by Ray (Hist. Insect. p. 254.) of 
the proceedings of a species of “ Vespa Ichneumon,” observed by 
* M. Goureau also notices the same fact in A. sabulosa, in Ann, Soc. Ent. France, 
1837, p. 66. 
